Ryoko, Kousuke, Eyes, and Rio all made it to Eyes's safely. Each of them were seated in Eyes's living room.
"I wonder where Mariko and Ayumu are," Ryoko muttered just as the phone began to ring.
"Moshi, moshi," Eyes answered, eyes sparkling with hope that it would be Mariko on the other end. A moment's pause passed. "Fine. Where will we have the exchange?" Ryoko, Rio, and Kousuke glanced amongst themselves. "See you then," Eyes replied and hung up. He slowly turned to the other three. "Mariko and Ayumu... they... the Hunters caught them. We're going to the park for an exchange."
_-_¯_-_¯_-_¯_-_
Rio, Ryoko, Kousuke and eyes stood in the middle of the park, waiting for the Hunters to arrive at the exchange. Not very long after they arrived, so did the Hunters.
Two Hunters, accompanied by Ayumu and Mariko, stood face-to-face with the other Blade Children.
"The deal still on?"
"Hai. Let's get it over with."
"Hai," the Hunters replied, bringing out two guns. The Hunters shot each of the Blade Children and Ayumu before laying Ayumu on a nearby park bench and taking the Blade Children with them.
As the deal had said, Ayumu went free, and the Blade Children were captured.
_-_¯_-_¯_-_¯_-_
"Ayumu, stop moping around and get to school!" Madoka ordered, trying to make her immobile, moping, lifeless brother-in-law move. "Gomen about what happened to Mariko, Ayumu, but you need to move on."
"How can I?" Ayumu questioned, speaking for the first time in months. "How can I move on from Mariko when you can't move on from Kiyotaka?"
Madoka didn't reply for a while. "Going to school might help you pass the time, so you could at least try."
"Fine. I'll go," Ayumu muttered, getting ready for school.
A few minutes later, Ayumu opened the door and went downstairs out of the apartment building. He took a deep breath and hurried to school.
"Ayumu! Look!" Hiyono screamed in his ear, waving a newspaper in his face. Ayumu quickly read the article, then shrank into disbelief.
"No... She can't be... She can't be... Mariko can't be dead! It isn't her!!"
REST IN RESULTS!!! (I almost decided to leave it here... But I thought you guys deserved a break...)
...
"Gomen nasai, but... Can you help me find my homeroom?" asked a tentative voice from behind Ayumu.
Ayumu turned around to get a better look at the girl. She was slightly shorter than him, had brown hair with honey highlights that reached her chin, and dark brown eyes.
"Um... Sure. Which homeroom are you in?" The girl told him. "This way." Ayumu led her through the hallways, and they neared her homeroom. Just as the two passed an empty classroom, the girl dragged him into the room and closed the door behind her.
She latched her arms around Ayumu's neck and nuzzled her face into his neck. "I've missed you so much, Ayumu."
"Eh? How do you know my name?" Ayumu's twinkles appeared.
"You really don't remember me, do you? I didn't think I'd been gone that long!" She smiled. "It's me, baka!"
"Mariko?" Ayumu looked at her closer.
MARIKO'S ALIVE!!!!!! Hehe!
